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Tension Rises As Trump, US Lawmakers Move To Punish Nigerian Officials Over ‘Christian Killings’.
A growing diplomatic tension is unfolding between Nigeria and the United States as the US Congress moves to deliberate on a bill that could impose sanctions on 12 northern governors, traditional rulers, and senior judges alleged to be complicit in what American lawmakers describe as “Christian genocide” and widespread religious persecution under Nigeria’s Sharia and blasphemy laws.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” for alleged systemic violations of religious freedom.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, decried what he termed “mass killings of Christians” in Nigeria and instructed key US lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, to launch an immediate investigation into the crisis.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed in Nigeria. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. America cannot fold its hands while these atrocities continue,” Trump declared.
The controversy centers on a proposed legislation titled The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz. The bill formally classifies Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and seeks to impose direct sanctions on Nigerian public officials and religious authorities accused of promoting or condoning violence against Christians and other religious minorities.
If passed, the bill mandates the US Secretary of State to compile, within 90 days, a list of Nigerian officials—including governors, judges, and monarchs—believed to have “enacted or maintained blasphemy laws” or “tolerated violence motivated by religion.” Those named would be sanctioned under Executive Order 13818 of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability framework, which includes visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions.
The proposed law specifically targets northern states where Sharia-based penal codes have been adopted since 1999, starting with Zamfara under then-Governor Ahmad Sani Yerima, followed by 11 other states—Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe. These states expanded Sharia’s jurisdiction beyond personal matters to cover criminal offenses and public morality, creating parallel Islamic legal systems alongside secular courts.
Meanwhile, states like Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Adamawa continue to operate under conventional legal frameworks, limiting Sharia to personal and family-related issues.
Tensions recently escalated when the Supreme Council for Sharia announced its intention to establish offices in Oyo and Ogun States, sparking public uproar and clashes between Muslim and Christian groups. The council later clarified that the proposed offices were merely for arbitration in Muslim-related disputes and not the establishment of Sharia courts.
While defending the bill, Senator Cruz accused Nigerian authorities of institutionalizing discrimination and turning a blind eye to violence against Christians and other religious minorities.
“Religious persecution and violence in Nigeria are endemic. Since 2009, over 52,000 Christians have been murdered, 20,000 churches destroyed, and dozens of villages wiped out. The government has failed to act—and in many cases, it is complicit,” Cruz alleged.
He further argued that the enforcement of Sharia law since 2000 had emboldened extremist groups and legitimized persecution under the guise of religious morality. The bill also condemns Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, which are prevalent in most northern states and have led to several controversial death sentences, including cases involving minors and entertainers accused of “insulting Islam.”
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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